Unreal Estate

Ten bpb offices could fit into the space that Le Mill, the city’s new “concept store” occupies, a sprawling, soaring 15,000 square ft former rice mill that’s been designed to retain its industrial feel and is scattered with crows and candles, jewellery and jeans, sunglasses and sofas. Like the space, the sheer variety of merchandise here can be overwhelming.

Broadly, Le Mill’s stock includes home furniture and decorative pieces; fashion accessories; clothes; and fresh flowers. There’s also a cafe in the back which currently serves tea and coffee but will begin offering largely organic fare next week, and free wi-fi. Most of the stock has been sourced from designers who work with Indian materials and influences, but rarely retail in India. Some collections are exclusive to the store.

Kit and Caboodle, Babies and Grandmoms

Founded by three French expats with Anahita Shroff from Vogue as fashion consultant, Le Mill’s products are definitely engaging. We loved an in-house range of tin boxes, printed with book spines and bus tickets (start at Rs 650), as well as clever postcards (Rs 90). Also catching our fancy was a line of jewellery by Delhi-based En Inde, a Fab-India-meets-rocker-chic melding of thick ropes and bright metal ornaments (Rs 9,000 for a gold and silver multi-strand version). Chunky, pop-coloured pieces from British brand Mawi are available as well. In a separate section (an industrial container with elegant walls and flamingo-inspired display cases) you can find precious jewellery, delicate but also slightly staid pieces in polke and jade. We did, however, really like a three-strand gold necklace by Gaia, strung with conical gold beads and similar to something our grandmothers would wear (Rs 51,000).

Accessories include some cool bags and pouches made from what look like gunny sacks (start at Rs 1350), and a pretty, powder blue sling purse with chain strap by Yvonne Yvonne (Rs 6,000). Vanessa Bruno’s line of canvas totes embellished with strips of sequins, however, struck us as a bit tacky (Rs 5,200) as did Folly Feet flip flops (Rs 1,350). Displayed in the same section are cloud-like shawls in pastel stripes by Kashmir Loom (check out the red-and-white-checked gamchha version), cool retro-ish Cutler & Gross sunglasses (Rs 18,500) and an absolutely adorable collection of baby dresses by Pero that made a better case for marriage than anything our mums have argued to date.

In the adjacent room are bales of high-end home linen in olive green and pretty yellow, sourced directly by Le Mill as well as a collection by Bandit Queen (scarves and cuff links available too). The home section is rounded off with sofa sets – pay special attention to Tibetan seating squares (Rs 20,000) - cutlery, candles and cushions.

Wear Do You Go To, My Lovely?

Now for the really good stuff:  the mezzanine level is dedicated to clothes, and some of these are wardrobe winners. Take for instance the black and white batik print dress by – ironically – Nor Black Nor White, part of the WETHEPPL collective (Rs 7,500). Or easy crepe jumpsuits in juicy orange and bright blue by Les Fees de Bengale; or super separates from the Olsen twins’ label The Row - special mention to skinny jeans (Rs 18,000) and a silk T-shirt with thin transparent inset running through the back (Rs 10,000).

We blew up this month’s lunch money on a black and navy bubble jacket by Neha Malhotra (Rs 14,000), and are in deep, irrevocable lust with Savio Jon tank-and-sari maxi (Rs 12,600) as well as a floral waistcoat by Anamika Khanna, straight off the runway and yet to be priced. Dear God, if you gave us that, we wouldn’t ask for another present until Christmas. In fact, we would wear it every day until Christmas.

Other labels include Rajesh Pratap Singh (starched boyfriend blazers in paisley and white linen) and Heimstone (salmon coloured silk dresses).

Whole New Whirl

The idea behind Le Mill is not a novel one: in fact, Bungalow8 in Colaba is similar in scope and price point, and matches Le Mill’s large space and concept of sticking to a specific design aesthetic – decaying vintage glamour as opposed to industrial chic. Yet, Le Mill feels fresh and new and optimistic, like Jeffrey’s did when it first opened in the non-gentrified Meat Packing District of New York. Maybe it’s the neighbourhood, yet unexplored by Mumbai high society, or the flower shop, or the above mentioned bubble jacket, super hot and strewn with colourful gumball beads, perfect for a rock concert or working lunch at the Tasting Room.

Getting there: 17-25 Nandlal Jani Road, next to new railway bridge, Wadi Bunder, call 23742415.